Spangle sat at his front desk looking over reports from the factories in Manehatten and Canterlot. He sighed happily reading that everything was going well in both cities. He filed the papers under the desk and looked that the mirror he had on his wall next to him. His mane was in a sweaty mess from cleaning out the chimney to the forge, but that was normal. The single lock of golden yellow in his ebony mane had draped down over his left eye and was stuck to his forehead. Spangle was about to get back to work when a loud crack cut through the still air of the small town.

After thinking for a moment, he passed it off as somepony chopping down a dead tree for fire wood. It wasn’t until his gray apprentice burst in through the back door carrying the rifle in his teeth.

“Ih dih hit!” he said proudly through his teeth.

“What?” Spangle asked taking the Silver Bit rifle out of the earth pony’s mouth.

“I said I did it! It’s fixed. And look!” Thunder Clap turned ninety degrees. “I got my cutie mark!”

Spangle looked at the clock on his wall confused. It had only been an hour. “That fast?”

“Yeah. There wasn’t much wrong with it. Just a broken sprocket and a clogged path to the firing chamber. It should shoot like it’s fresh from Silver Bit herself.

Spangle pulled the hammer back and listened to it go past half cock and then to full. The hammer went forward quickly with a loud crack and a shower of sparks from the flint and steel.

“Well, that is impressive. And you test fired it?”

“Yeah!”

“So that’s what I heard.”

“Yeah, it’s loud boss.”

“That’s impressive Thunder. I’m proud of you. I’ll start sending more projects your way.” Spangle leaned over and reached for the candy dispenser he had sitting on his work bench.

He pulled a lever and a single ball of bubble gum was ejected from the side of the machine and in to the air. Spangle caught the gum in his mouth and started chewing. Inside Thunder Claps head, a brain storm started to roll in. Gears turned, ideas and basic drawling flashed through his mind. Spangle took notice and raised an eye brow.

“You alright Thunder Clap?”

“Can I borrow that?” Thunder asked pointing a hoof at the candy machine. “And the rifle.”

“I can give you the machine, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to let you get the rifle back. It is mine after all.”

“You let me fix your rifle?” Thunder asked feeling honored to have handled Spangle’s Silver Bit rifle.

“I’m the one that broke it, and I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to see if you could apply yourself to a project. What are you thinking’ about?”

“It’s just an idea that I want to try and put into action.”

“Well, the dispenser is built into the desk but I can get you the schematics.”

“Thank you Spangle! You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I still expect you to keep up with the work I hand you, Thunder.”

“Of course, Spangle. I won’t let you down boss!”
Inside Thunder Clap’s head, the designs on paper spun around him as the scanned over the candy dispenser’s. Possible modifications, mounts, right down to the size holes he would need to drill for it to work. In his mind, the same lever action that was used on the candy machine could be used to cycle in the package with the bullet and the premeasured amount of gun powder in it into the firing chamber all at once. Thunder Clap rolled up the schematics for the candy machine, took the rifle in his teeth and ran back to his house to start work on his idea.

Spangle shook his head and made his way to a carrier pigeon cage set in his window. Ninety-nine percent of the time there wasn’t a pigeon in it. He would simply leave the note within it and his friend's bird would come by and take the note to its very important owner with in that day. Spangle took out a piece of parchment and took his shop pencil in his teeth.

Dear Nexus:

It’s been a while since I’ve sent you a letter through Raven Wing, but I feel this needs to be in front of you ASAP. As always, the factories in Manehatten and Canterlot are running smoothly and the complaints of malfunctions in either the MK. 2’s or the Iron Icarus’ are far below minimal. I might have something that would interest you and Shining Armor. If my apprentice is thinking like I am, then his project should make ranged combat for regular infantry very easy. I'll send you another letter when the project is in beta stages and keep you posted on any changes in development. And when you come to town, have your legs this time.

Your friend: Midnight Spangle

Spangle rolled the parchment into a scroll and tied it with a black ribbon. He placed the scroll in the cage and opened the door to the outside.

“Let’s see if that bird gets here on time today.” Spangle said to himself after popping a bubble he blew with the bubble gum he was chewing.

Author's Notes:

Nexus: Thunder Clap seems a bit childish for my tastes. How is he possibly going to-
Me: Shut up and go back to your own dimension Nex. Don't you have a maid to be bangin' right about now?
Nexus: Bite me.